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The Knicks won the 1970 title. The Bucks won the 1971 title. In 1973, the Knicks regained the belt. It would have been a wonderful battle throughout the 1970s if Reed had remained healthy. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would wait a few years to face a formidable challenge. This time, it came not from a native New Yorker, but from another UCLA Center. Bill Walton would win his share of battles with Kareem as Willis did but similar to Reed, Walton's body gave out far too soon.
Marv Albert : "It seems to me, trying to remember all these years later, that Willis used to kill Kareem. Reed would outplay him. I used to think Kareem was afraid of him. He watched him in New York, growing up. There was always that possibility that Reed would deck him."

Pete Vecsey : "Willis Reed was one of the fiercest competitors you'll ever find. He wiped the deck with opponents. He once beat up four Lakers, he broke John Block's jaw... another time, he was in the middle of a huge brawl in Atlanta. He was a great team player and one of the all-time enforcers. His teammates loved him."
Marv Albert : "I remember what Vecsey was talking about. It was opening night at Madison Square Garden against the Lakers. John Block just happened to be in the way. Willis just lost it. He was being restrained, and I think he once got beat up as a child when restrained. So, a fight broke out, and Reed broke free from whomever was holding him back, and he just went up and down the Lakers bench. He got Rudy Larusso as well."

Reed was very underrated but let's not forget he was an experienced pro in Jabbar's early days (when he was Alcindor) backed by a much more talented and better coached team while Alcindor was expected to play savior for a team whose only other assets were Jon McGlocklin and Bob Dandridge.

A year later, when Alcindor (now Jabbar) had help in the form of one Oscar Robertson, he was able to lead his team to a championship.

Reed was great and he was one of my heros back when i was still a devoted Knicks fan. (Haven't followed them in years). But let's be real: Reed was no Jabbar.

Last edited by fanofclendennon; 11-27-2011 at 02:07 AM.

"Ain't got the call no more. Got a lot of sinful idears – but they seem kinda sensible...."

Reed was very underrated but let's not forget he was an experienced pro in Jabbar's early days (when he was Alcindor) backed by a much more talented and better coached team while Alcindor was expected to play savior for a team whose only other assets were Jon McGlocklin and Bob Dandridge.

A year later, when Alcindor (now Jabbar) had help in the form of one Oscar Robertson, he was able to lead his team to a championship.

Reed was great and he was one of my heros back when i was still a devoted Knicks fan. (Haven't followed them in years). But let's be real: Reed was no Jabbar.

That about sums it up. I've never been big on Reed overall- I do think he is underrated in discussions for that time, but I see him as David Robinson to Hakeem.... comparable for a time, stifled him when they played, but overall not in the same tier at the end of their careers

Like I said - initially. The Knicks remained better, and Jabbar's team did not. Cowens had his time of harassing Jabbar as well. Jabbar lasted forever and got better. Reed and Cowens didn't last nearly as long or play at such a high level night in and night out.

Jabbar 16 years > 10 WS (6 above Reed's best)

Reed 4 years > 10 WS

Last edited by bagwell368; 10-01-2012 at 12:57 PM.

I am not a con artist! I am a businessman! I have a big brain and I'm good at making deals! People are just jealous of my BIG BRAIN! BAD!